--- title: "Cinema 4D and the Command Line" url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/52193.html" section_path: "Configuration > Information for administrators > CINEMA 4D and the Command Line" description: "Starting the Commandline Renderer in conjunction with the Maxon user account" --- # CINEMA 4D and the Command Line ## Starting the Commandline Renderer in conjunction with the Maxon user account When starting the Commandline Renderer for the first time, it must either be connected directly with the Maxon user account or indirectly via the License Server. The following dialog window will open: ![Image: 043598.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/043598.jpg) Depending on what is selected here, the same information (this will be requested here) that you normally have to enter when using Cinema 4D normally. This information is: - For the Maxon user account (Maxon Account): Email address and password (for multiple licenses the type as well). See also [here](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/69625.html.md). - For the Maxon License Server: License Server IP address, License Sever port (the one you entered during installation), determination if the connection to the License Server should be encrypted or not and the optional username and password (as they were assigned in the License Server's User tab). See also [here](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/69626.html.md). - RLM: for online licensing: RLM server address, RLM server port, optional password. For offline licensing, only the RLM license path is required. After licensing has been completed, the Commandline Renderer can be used. ## Starting Cinema 4D via the Command Line Cinema 4D can be started via the command line. This is useful if you want to control render functions using other software (e.g., render farm software). A Windows system is used in the example described below (references for Macintosh users are listed subsequently). Enter the following to start Cinema 4D via the command line ( If a path or file name contains spaces it can help to enclose them in quotation marks): **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe** > **Tip:** Tip:C:\\programs\\Cinema 4D\\Cinema 4D.exe can also be used. However, Commandline.exe, which is installed in the installation directory s, is recommended because it also starts without the application interface and always leaves a console open. For c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\ enter your individual path to the executable file. ### **-render** Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render** **c:\\scenes\\hajopei.c4d** This command will render the scene **hajopei.c4d**, located in the **c:\\scenes** directory. The render settings already defined in Cinema 4D will be used. ### -take Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render c:\\Szenen\\hajopei.c4d -take front** This command renders a specific Take. In this example it's the Take named ,front’. ### **-frame** Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render c:\\scenes\\hajopei.c4d -frame 100 150 10** This command will render every 10th frame from frame 100 to 150. If **150** and **10** were not included in the command line, only frame 100 would be rendered. This command will override any scene settings. ### **-oimage** Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render** **c:\\scenes\\hajopei.c4d -oimage d:\\images\\framename** This will overwrite the save path for the scene file **hajopei.c4d** and render to the **d:\\images** directory. The files will be named according to **framename**. Sequential frame numbers will be added automatically. ### **-omultipass** Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render** **c:\\scenes\\hajopei.c4d -omultipass c:\\mp\\passes.psd** This will overwrite the scene's Multi-Pass path and save the Multi-Pass to the **c:\\mp\\** directory. Sequential frame numbers and Multi-Pass names will be added automatically. ### **-oformat** Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render** **c:\\scenes\\hajopei.c4d -oformat JPG** ### -oformat JPG The output format defined in the scene file itself can be replaced with one of the following formats: TIFF, TGA, BMP, IFF, JPG, PICT, PSE, RLA, RPF, B3D, HDR, EXR, PNG, PSP. ### **-oresolution** Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render** **c:\\scenes\\hajopei.c4d -oresolution 800 600** This will overwrite the render size as defined in the **hajopei.c4d** scene file. In this case the render output will have a resolution of 800 x 600. ### **-threads** Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render** **c:\\scenes\\hajopei.c4d -threads 2** This defines the number of threads. 0 is the optimal number of threads. ### -engine Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe -render c:\\Scenes\\test.c4d -engine PHYSICAL** This will override the renderer specified in the scene file test.c4d, and in this case, you will render using the Physical Renderer. You generally have the following renderers to choose from: VIEWPORT, STANDARD, PHYSICAL, REDSHIFT. ### g_logfile=[string] Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Commandline.exe** - render **c\\Scenes\\hajopei.c4d** g_logfile= c:\\Report.txt All information regarding render progress will be saved in a file on the hard drive (in this case **Report.txt** on your **c:** drive). --- The following commands, with the exception of **-help**, are less useful when using the Commandline option and only have a function if the Cinema 4D executable file is used with the options described. ### **-help** Launches a brief description of supported commands ### -minimalviewport Cinema 4D starts with minimum Viewport options. ### **-nogui** Starts Cinema 4D without a GUI (interface). > **Tip:** Tip:Make sure that this command comes first. Otherwise, new window may still be opened. ### -title Windows only: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Cinema 4D.exe -title Name** This command assigns a name to a Cinema 4D window. This name will be displayed at the top left of the Cinema 4D window and in the task bar. This makes locating one of several open instances of Cinema 4D much easier using Alt+tab. ### -layout Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\Cinema 4D.exe -layout** **c:\\Programme\\\\Cinema 4D\\library\\layout\\Modeling.l4d** Use this command to load a specific layout when starting Cinema 4D. ### -license [ip [port]] Example: **c:\\Programs\\MAXON\\Cinema 4D\\CNEMA 4D.exe -licence 192.168.30.15 5235** This lets you start program instances that access the License Server (if the server has also been started as a command line instance) or the RLM server (enter the host name instead of the IP address). ### The Command Line Argument Node Using the Command Line Argument Node, you can pass any text strings to Cinema 4D, where they can be connected in any way: - [Command Line Argument](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/GVCMDLINEARG.html.md)-Node for XPresso (with example). - [Command Line Argument](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_NODE_CMDLINEARG.html.md)-Node for the scene nodes. ### Macintosh Systems The syntax for paths on Macs looks somewhat different. The executable Cinema 4D file can be launched directly from a console window: 1. Right-click on the **Cinema 4D.app** start-up file in your installation directory and select **Show Package Contents**. 2. Switch to the **contents/macOS** directory. 3. Drag the Cinema 4D file into the terminal window. The correct path will automatically be used. 4. Enter the desired commands (e.g., -render, -nogui, etc.) 5. Drag the scene file to be rendered into the terminal window. Make sure the path is correct.